Capital Cool

Proving a simple act can transform the world, Rosa Parks’ display of quiet courage sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott giving impetus to the Civil Rights Movement and making Montgomery the epicenter of a groundbreaking societal shift that would change our entire nation for the better. In December 2015, Montgomery will commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Go>

Montgomery offers exceptional southern hospitality with more than 7,000 hotel rooms in the metro area. From our four-star luxury hotel and convention center to our wide selection of accommodations, you’re sure to enjoy the perfect stay in the Capital City.

Montgomery's food scene is quit diverse and you should always make sure you leave room for dessrt. At the Tipping Point you can treat yourself to this huge soft and chewy, homemade chocolate-chip cookie served warm in a skillet and finished with a rich fudge sauce and vanilla ice cream.

Plan your meeting in a city that knows how to put on a show. Whether it’s our cool restaurants and entertainment, historical sites, golf courses, sporting venues, or shopping, you can mix plenty of pleasure into your business. And create an event that’s nothing less than spectacular.

Enterprise Holdings Company
10% discount on daily retail rate at Enterprise and National Rentals. Good at Montgomery Regional Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL). Use account number L55E895. Standard qualifications apply. Call branch for details.

ABC News Reporter Gives Election View from an F-16 Red Tail

ABC News' Michael Koenigs, a.k.a. "Mike on a Bike" ended his epic journey across the country during the the Election Cycle with a thrilling ride in an F-16 "Red Tail" at the 187th Fighter Wing, Alabama Air National Guard in Montgomery. You might remember that he also took on the World Firefighter Combat Challenge Course during this visit, too. From high above the River Region with Captain Jeff "Splitt" Witt at the controls, he shares a reassuring perspective and a reminder of those who put it all on the line to preserve our right to vote. See the segment for yourself here.

As the 2016 Election Cycle comes to an end, I decided to escape the rancorous political atmosphere in an F-16 fighter jet.

My former college roommate, Capt. Jeffrey Witt, had become a member of the Alabama National Air Guard shortly after he graduated from Harvard in 2009. He was awarded the Air Combat Command Outstanding Aircrew Award while deployed in Afghanistan in 2014 and continues to serve as a reserve pilot in the 187th Fighter Wing.

His unit welcomed me to its Montgomery base to check out the capabilities of the F-16 during a flight over the fields of Alabama.

The F-16 we boarded was built in 1987 and may be replaced in the coming years by the $138-million-dollar F-35. But some contended that the F-16 remains one of the best dogfight planes in the fleet. It can go up to speeds of "Mach 2,” or 1,534 mph.

“It’s a lot faster than your bicycle,” said Witt.

Upon takeoff, Witt yanked the jet to a 90-degree angle, causing much of the blood to drain from my head. Although I wore a G-suit strapped to my legs and lower torso compressed with air in order to maintain blood in the upper body, I drifted toward unconsciousness several times during the flight.

After reaching a safe-fly zone, we did a variety of G-force inducing maneuvers ranging from 360-degree loops and rapid turns that applied nearly 9Gs of force on our bodies.

I threw up several times as Captain Witt demonstrated the extraordinary power and maneuverability of his plane.

After the most physically intense 30 minutes of my life, I was happy to land safely back at Dannelly Field, reunited with my trusty bicycle for the final leg of the Election Cycle.

For more Election Cycle updates, follow @MikeOnABikeABC on Twitter.

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How to Pokémon Go MGM!

July 6th was the release date for Pokémon Go, and in just a week’s time the app became a craze, surpassing Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook in the iTunes store. Montgomery is full of Pokéstops, gyms, and trainers of all kinds with one thing in common: catching pocket monsters! Montgomery's large collection of historical markers and amazing attractions serve as a gateway for Pokémon Go enthusiasts. Below are a few tips on how to Pokémon Go MGM.

Gather all of your hunting necessities from Pokéstops in numerous areas of MGM!

First things first, in order to catch Pokémon you’ll need supplies such as Poké Balls, Razz Berries, and Lure Modules. These items can be found at Pokéstops which are located at just about any church or historical marker throughout Montgomery. Downtown MGM is home to at least 40 Pokéstops, making it an extremely popular area for Pokémon hunting. So light an incense while traveling from Pokéstop to Pokéstop to increase your chances of catching these digital creatures.

Become acquainted with the very things that makes MGM spectacular.

Explore MGM through this augmented reality, pocket monster hunting app. With Pokéstops being located near historical markers, take the time to discover some areas of MGM you have yet to see. Whether it be Riverfront Parkto catch water Pokémon, Blount Cultural Park to catch grass and bug Pokémon, or the nightlife in theOld Cloverdalearea to catch ghost Pokémon, MGM has many great attractions to visit while on your hunt.

Discover MGM by foot to get those eggs hatching.

Hatching eggs is another way to add Pokémon to your collection. These eggs can come from Pokéstops and once placed in an incubator, hatch as the trainer travels a designated distance. So get out and get walking! Travel to The Montgomery Zooand visit the real-life creatures or checkout the Montgomery Visitor Center for walking tours offered throughout the area such as the Civil Heritage Trail.

Claim gyms with your most powerful Pokémon so others know that this is your MGM.

For those that are serious Pokémon fans and want to do more than catch all 250 creatures, gym battles are an added feature. Once a trainer reaches level 5, they will be prompted to choose a team: Team Yellow-Instinct, Team Blue-Mystic, and Team Red-Valor. Each team is researching a different quality possessed by Pokémon and believe that it is key to winning a battle. The goal of each team is to take over as many gyms as possible. These gym battles allow trainers to engage with other trainers and their Pokémon. Gyms are usually known landmarks such as Hampstead’sTown Center Fountain,The Shoppes at EastChase’s Cowboys sculpture, or the Hank Williams Statue. So be sure to go and declare your turf!

The Freedom Rides: 55 Years Ago

On May 20, 1961 at 10:23 a.m., a Greyhound bus arrived at the bus station in Montgomery with 21 brave young people on board. They were riding to desegregate the interstate bus station and they'd already been met with voilence and anger in other cities. In Montgomery, a violent mob was waiting for them.

This weekend the Freedom Rides Museum located at that historic greyhound station in Montgomery will commemorate this anniversary with ceremonies, book signings, tours and even a commemorative bike ride with the Montgomery Bicycle Club. Check out the complete schedule below!

25 Years and the Southern Accent Hasn’t Changed…

For 25 years the Alabama Shakespeare Festival has been bringing new plays with a distinctly southern accent to the stage through the Southern Writers' Project.

Each year during a three-day festival they debut brand new work that has never been performed for audiences before. Quite often, those plays go on to great fame and future production. Examples are the sell-out football show "Bear Country" about Paul "Bear" Bryant, and "Gee's Bend" about the famed quilters of Gee's Bend, Alabama who fought for voting rights.

Check out the new plays lined up for this year's festival:

Friday, May 6 at 4 p.m.Lovesick by Peter Hicks
When an advertising executive begs off of a fundraiser mixer with his wife to stay at home to “work” with his curvaceous assistant, he has no idea that his scorned wife has some murderous plans of her own!

Saturday, May 7 at 10 a.m.Delta Secret by Prince Duren
An ex-boxer working on a farm in 1920s Mississippi outbids his boss when he and his brother-in-law purchase a building downtown to convert into a night club. The resulting tensions cause family secrets to be revealed.

Saturday, May 7 at 4 p.m.In the Midnight Hour by Kenneth Green
A new musical in development celebrating the life and music of Prattville native Wilson Pickett! One of the most popular singers of the ’60s, Pickett scored a series of R&B and pop hits on Atlantic Records between 1963 and 1972 that included “In the Midnight Hour,” “Mustang Sally,” and “Funky Broadway.”

Sunday, May 8 at 10:30 a.m.Starstruck by Lucile Lichtblau
In the midst of the Great Depression and impending war, a struggling Jewish family is dazzled by dreams of Hollywood.

One of the coolest things about SWP Fest is that there's a chance to respond to the playwright in a talkback after each reading where audience members share their reactionsn to the play. The weekend can be enjoyed show by show for $15 each ($10 for students) or as a package including meals and artist interaction events. Packages need to be booked by May 5th here or by calling 1.800.841.4273.

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yokohama tire lpga classic

Montgomery and the River Region will once again take center stage as it hosts the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic, August 24-30 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Prattville. While it is difficult to quantify the exact impact to local businesses, the real impact from the tournament goes far beyond dollars and cents. The weeklong event welcomes international corporate executives, media from around the globe, and visitors who may be exposed to our community for the very first time. From an economic development and image perspective, the event has a significant coup for Montgomery and the entire region.

southern league all-star game

The 2015 Southern League All-Star Game presented by Wind Creek Hospitality returns to Montgomery on Tuesday, June 23, 2015. The Southern League All-Star Home Run Derby presented by Alfa Insurance kicks off the night's events, with the league's top hitters and prospects competing for the Home Run Derby Title. Gates open at 6:00pm with the Home Run Derby and the Southern League All-Star Game will begin shortly after. Following the game, fans will enjoy a MAX Fireworks Spectacular.

Tickets are $22 for reserved seating and $15 for general admission and include admission to the Home Run Derby. Click here to purchase single game tickets. For more information, call 334.323.2255.

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capital cool cruisers

Navigate your way through downtown to any of the historical attractions, various restaurants and cool spots on a Regions Bike. You can rent a bike from the Montgomery Area Visitor Center and be well on your way to exploring what makes Montgomery unique. No helmet, no problem! All the bike essentials are provided in the rental. Bikes are available Monday-Saturday from 8:30am-5:00pm. Please call 334-262-0013 to reserve your Capital COOL Cruiser today!

southern makers

Southern Makers is an annual two day event that celebrates creativity in Alabama. This years' event will be held on May 2nd and 3rd at the Union Station Trainshed.

Southern Makers purpose is to bring together highly curated, handpicked top talent - artists, chefs, breweries, craftsmen, and designers - to one central place, making it easy for adventurers to get a sampling of Alabama’s best. Rich with history in textiles, food, farming, literature, art and design, Southern Makers will explore contemporary Alabama-based food and design with panel discussions, demonstrations, tastings, workshops, maker conversations and a market featuring goods from these southern artisans and chefs.

Free April Walking Tours

Experience the culture and history of Alabama this spring with April Walking Tours. Twenty-two towns across the sate are offering free guided walking tours each Saturday morning in April. Each tour begins at 10:00 a.m. and is approximately one hour long. Community leaders will escort you through the historic districts or courthouse square areas of their hometowns, sharing their personal remembrances and some tall tales from the old days.

Tours will begin at the Montgomery Area Visitor Center. For more information, call 334-262-0013.